About Iona

Frequently Asked Questions

Iona is a Washington, D.C. nonprofit whose mission is to support people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. For more information, please call us at (202) 895-9448 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How does Iona help older adults and caregivers?

Iona provides a wide array of services and programs, all supporting our mission to help people age well and live well.

Iona serves people over 60 and their families/friends. Our main building is located at 4125 Albemarle Street NW, in Washington, DC (near the Tenleytown stop on the Red Line). At this location we have our adult day health center (the Wellness & Arts Center) and people can meet with a geriatric care manager in a consultation, or see a therapist for mental health counseling. We also have a variety of support groups, fitness classes, Take Charge/Age Well℠ workshops, and art events happening at this location. We have a physical therapy practice onsite as well.

Our social workers spend a great deal of time visiting older adults and caregivers in Northwest DC and close-in Montgomery County. We provide information and problem-solving phone consultations for people not just throughout the region but throughout the country. We also have a variety of support groups held in various locations.

Our Active Wellness Program at St. Alban’s is open to DC residents age 60+ from all over the city. It is located in Satterlee Hall at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. NW and Massachusetts Ave. NW.

Service

Age Restrictions

Geographic Restrictions

Case Management funded by the D.C. Office on Aging (DCOA)

60 and older

Ward 3 and parts of Wards 2 and 4

Iona Care Management

Generally 60 and older but can help adults younger than 60 with concerns like early onset memory loss

Can assist family caregivers of any age

Consultations can be provided at the Iona Breckinridge Center or by telephone regardless of where the older adult or caregiver lives. We also do in-home consultations within a limited service area.

Case management provided to older adults living in D.C. and close-in Montgomery County

Mental Health Counseling

60 and over or caregiver of any age of an older adult 60 and over

No restrictions

Support Groups

60 and older for groups for older adults

No minimum age for caregiver support groups

No restrictions

St. Albans Active Wellness

60 and older

D.C. resident

Wellness & Arts Center

60 and older, although sometimes people under 60 who qualify can participate

No restrictions; subsidies available for D.C. residents

Home-delivered meals

60 and older

Ward 3 and parts of Wards 2 and 4

Take Charge/Age Well

Born between 1946-1964

No restrictions

Does Iona provide housing?

Though when Iona was founded in 1975 it was known as Iona House, we have never been a residential community. No one lives at the Isabella Breckinridge Center at 4125 Albemarle Street NW, but many people visit our building to look at the art in our gallery, participate in our award-winning adult day program at the Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center, attend a support group, join a Take Charge/Age Well or exercise class, or meet with a social worker for a consultation. And if you’re looking for housing for yourself or a family member, we can help with that too. Call (202) 895-9448 and ask for our Helpline for more information.

How much do Iona’s services cost?

Aging and caregiving affects everyone, regardless of economic status. Iona helps older adults at every income level. While there are fees for some of our services, Medicare and other insurance defrays the cost of others. Through individual contributions, grant funding, corporate support, and funding from the DC Office on Aging, we are able to help those who cannot afford to pay for our services.

To learn more about fees and eligibility criteria for all of our services, call (202) 895-9448 and ask for the Helpline.

How can I get more information?

One of Iona’s most important services is our Information & Referral Helpline (call 202-895-9448 and ask for the Helpline, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), staffed by a social worker or a nurse, whenever Iona is open (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). I&R answers questions about aging services throughout the DC metro area. It is also a gateway to Iona’s programs. Our Helpline staff members are experts at talking with callers about their needs and connecting them to the right services at Iona or in the community.

How can I volunteer?

We offer many volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and with a variety of skills and experience. Iona will work with your schedule and interests to make your experience meaningful and enjoyable. Please contact Iona’s Volunteer Program Coordinator by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Volunteer Page on our website.

How do I make a donation?

Thank you for your generosity in supporting our mission to support people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. For information about making a donation, please visit the Donate Page on our website. You can also contact us during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) or by phone at (202) 895-9401.

Mission

Iona's Mission

Iona supports people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We educate, advocate, and provide community-based services to help people age well and live well.

Iona's Vision Statement

We envision a community that celebrates, values, respects, and protects the contributions and possibilities of every individual.

History

During a time of a great blossoming of community organizing in Washington, DC, Iona was founded by four faith communities in Tenleytown with the purpose of ensuring that their neighborhood would celebrate, value, respect, and protect the contributions and potential of older people.

The early founders could not have imagined the leadership role Iona would eventually come to play in modeling best practices in aging services and in advocacy for older people for the entire metropolitan region. The definition of Iona's community began to grow beyond the Tenleytown neighborhood as first, in 1982, Iona was named a lead agency with the DC Office on Aging. This grant helped to build robust mid-day lunch programs, an Adult Day Health Center, and a best-practices case management and counseling program at Iona to add to already vibrant cultural, arts, and wellness activities.

In April 1997, thanks to generous donations and successful fundraising efforts, Iona moved to its current location at 4125 Albemarle Street, NW, in Washington, DC. In addition to welcoming people who need support as they experience the challenges of aging, the Isabella Breckinridge Center is a place where people experience the opportunities of aging through activities at Iona, engaging educational workshops and a robust volunteer corps.

Today, Iona serves the entire metropolitan region and responds to calls from around the world with information and referrals thorough our Helpline. The Wellness & Arts Center, named a Center for Dementia Care Excellence in 2008 and again in 2013 by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, now welcomes people from all over the city and close-in suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. Fee-for-service programs in family consultation and care management serve families from all over the region and even nationally, and helps to subsidize the DC Office on Aging and philanthropic care management that remains a core service at Iona. The Active Wellness midday program at St. Alban's welcomes people from all over the city for a weekday lunch, education, and exercise. Iona's recent emphasis on positive aging through education and the arts continues to widen the geographic, racial, ethnic, and age diversity of our circle of friends and people we serve through the Gallery at Iona, arts and wellness classes and workshops, exercise classes, and special events.

Thanks to supportive friends, partners and funders, Iona's programs and services have grown exponentially as the needs in the community have increased, changed and become increasingly complex.

Videos are a powerful tool to explore the challenges and opportunities of aging. Our video gallery features stories from our clients, participants, volunteers, and staff on the important work we do. We invite you to watch and enjoy! All of our videos are also available on our YouTube Channel.

Iona on Air: Community Health Care #1

At the Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center, we pride ourselves in being a safety net and support system for caregivers and their families. Hear from members of our diverse staff, including registered nurses, program specialists, nursing assistants, and a social worker on how our robust adult day program engages participants and provides the respite caregivers need and deserve. Our goal is to reduce the caregiver’s burden. Watch how we do it.

Iona on Air: Support for the Whole Person #2

At the Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center, we have a person-centered and holistic approach to programming. From music classes and morning exercise to discussion groups or intergenerational visits, we offer a variety of programs that speak to our individual participants’ interests. In this clip, hear from staff members and volunteers on how our center makes extraordinary days out of ordinary ones. As Program Manager Sarah Grogan says, we aim to create “moments of joy.” Watch how we do it.

Iona on Air: Hands on Caring #3

At Iona, we aim to provide as much support to caregivers and their families as possible. Our Weinberg Wellness & Arts Center offers this support through our specially trained staff that is experienced caring for older adults and their unique needs. Along with engaging and stimulating programs, our adult day health center provides health and wellness monitoring that can save caretakers from unnecessary doctor visits. We can be partners in caring for your loved ones. Watch how we do it.

Iona on Air: Care for the Caregiver #4

When an older adult becomes frail or forgetful, families sometimes struggle with what to do. A “hidden gem” in the range of possibilities is adult day services. At the Wellness & Arts Center, our experienced staff works together to provide an encouraging and supportive environment every day so that older adults can remain living at home. In this clip, hear from caregivers and participants on how our Center has improved their quality of life and created days full of happiness. Adult Day Services provides a strong community network and social outlet for participants and families. Watch how we do it.

Iona on Air: Creating New Memories #5

At Iona, we believe in the therapeutic benefits of art therapy. Our Wellness & Arts Center incorporates group and individual art studio sessions into our daily programming. Led by our art therapists, who are trained in counseling and psychotherapy, these sessions provide opportunities for creative expression and non-verbal communication. This can be particularly important for those participants beginning to lose their verbal skills. In this clip, hear from participants, caregivers, and our art therapist on how art therapy has supported positive aging. In our Wellness & Arts Center, we strive to engage all of our participants with creative outlets and moments for reflection. Watch how we do it.

Art at Iona

From hands-on workshops and educational lectures to special guided tours of our Gallery, Iona infuses art into our mission to help older adults age well and live well. In this clip, Artist in Residence Cynthia Farrell Johnson leads a workshop and Special Guest Artist Paul Brown shares how art keeps him passionate about life.

Since 1975, Iona has been a trusted provider of essential services in the metropolitan Washington, DC area for older adults, their families, and the community. Iona's mission is to support people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We encourage the arts as a healing modality by honoring and exhibiting artists 60+ through our Artist in Residence Program. This program also features hands-on workshops, special guided tours of our Gallery, and educational lectures from the many artists in our community.

Lunch and Learn

In this clip, hear from artists Gwen Aqui and Bernard W. Brooks on their artistic process and inspiration. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of their works on display at the Gallery at Iona.

Iona Art of Caring 2014

Hear from caregiver Ana Maria Boitel, client Netty Mostert, and Take Charge/Age Well participant Wes Morrison on how Iona helped create a new sense of community and belonging. Join our family at Iona. Call (202) 895-9448 for more information.

For forty years, Iona has been a safety net for older adults and their families dealing with the challenges of aging. In this clip, hear from Edna Barber, Mabel Torres, and Lizzie Hamlet, who all benefited from our different services and programs.

Management Team

Sally White, MSExecutive Director

Sally White is the Executive Director of Iona Senior Services. Sally is honored to have worked for Iona for the past 28 years in numerous program areas and to serve as Executive Director for the past five years. While working with Iona in 2006-07, Sally also served as the Executive Director for the Greater Washington Partnership for Palliative and End-Of-Life Care. Ms White Co-Chairs the DC Senior Advisory Coalition (S.A.C.) advocating to improve the quality of life for and with older adults in the District of Columbia, and she serves on the Program Committee of Generations United. She holds a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and a M.S. in Family and Community Development with a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Maryland. Contact Sally

Deb Rubenstein, MSW, LICSW is Director of Iona's Consultation, Care Management and Counseling Services. Deb, who is a licensed clinical social worker and an attorney, has 20 years of experience as a geriatric care manager and psychotherapist. She leads workshops in a variety of settings, including workplaces, for the public and professionals on a wide range of topics from "How to Help a Senior Who Doesn't Want Your Help" to "Legal and Financial Planning for Retirees and Caregivers". Deb holds an M.S.W. from The Catholic University of America and is currently enrolled in their doctoral program in social work.Contact Deb

Sharon is the Director of Iona's Wellness & Arts Center. She has been a health care professional for 16 years, focusing the last ten years in senior care. Sharon directed special care units for older adults with memory impairment in the assisted living setting. Most recently she has been the Associate Executive Director for several Sunrise Senior Living communities. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Contact Sharon

Susan A. Messina, MSS, MLSP, MS, CFREDirector of Development

Susan, Iona's Director of Development, has more than 20 years of fundraising experience for a wide variety of health and human service organizations. Prior to joining Iona, she was with the National Hospice Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Susan holds two master's degrees from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work & Social Research (in social work , and law and social policy) and an additional master's in library and information science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a Certified Fund Raising Professional (CFRE). Contact Susan

Lylie Fisher

Director of Community Engagement

Lylie is Iona's Director of Community Engagement. As a communications and program specialist, Lylie designs, plans, and implements unique initiatives that support dynamic civic engagement for Iona. Lylie has over 25 years of experience forging partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and government agencies in Australia and the US. Lylie is a practicing visual artist and art educator. In 2009 she completed a life coaching program at California's Sofia University, and holds an advanced coaching certification.Contact Lylie

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governing body for Iona. The members are volunteers who oversee the management and finances of the organization. The Board meets regularly to review the status of agency finances and progress toward strategic goals. They are selected on the basis of their community involvement, professional experience, and dedication to the mission of Iona.

Philanthropic Partners (As of December 23, 2014)The following organizations have made a philanthropic gift to Iona to help us provide care to those in most need. Please join us in thanking them for being part of a community that cares:

Want to join the staff at Iona?

Iona Senior Services is a not-for-profit organization now celebrating its 39th year of operation. Iona supports people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We educate, advocate, and provide community-based programs and services to help people age well and live well. Iona's family of services include: Wellness & Arts Center; Care Management, Consultation, and Counseling; Community Programs; and Advocacy. We are located in Washington, DC, just minutes from the Tenleytown/AU Metro (on the red line).

We are always looking for bright and talented individuals to join our diverse team. Iona offers challenging career opportunities, a dynamic work environment and generous employee benefits.

We frequently have opportunities for individuals with experience in social work, nursing and recreational therapy. Iona is committed to diversity within its staff, and encourages applications from all qualified candidates. Send cover letters and resumes to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or fax: (202) 895-0236.

Current Openings:

Thank you for your interest in Iona Senior Services. There may be times that no current job openings at Iona will be posted. Please visit us again in the future to learn of other opportunities.

Iona Senior Services is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.-Adopted by Iona's Board of Directors on November 20, 2013.

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Non-Discrimination Statement

Iona Senior Services does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and guests.

Iona Senior Services is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Adopted by Iona's Board of Directors on November 20, 2013.

Take a "tour" of the way we serve the community.Art of Caring

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Did You Know?

Over 1,400 older adults and family caregivers received direct care and support from Iona last year.

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Your charitable giving helped Iona provide care management to over 250 vulnerable older adults so that they can remain safely in their homes and in our community.

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Originally "Iona House" in 1975 operated programs out of the parish house behind St. Columba's Episcopal Church, one of our founding congregations. Iona's beautiful Breckinridge Building was built at 42nd and Albemarle Street in 1996 thanks to generous individuals, corporate & foundation partners.

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Congratulations to Iona's Wellness & Arts Center, which was recertified as a Center for Excellence in Care by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

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The Helpline's skilled professionals answered over 6,000 calls last year on a broad range of topics. Call 202-895-9448 for answers to your questions today.

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"Making a legacy gift to benefit Iona was an easy decision for us. We couldn't think of a better way to show our commitment."